Machine for moistening, closing, and sealing envelops.



Patented Sept. I2, I899.

CLOSING, AND SEALlNG EN VELOP S. Y

2 Sheets-Sheet l.

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N0. 632,99l. Patented Sept. 12, I899.

' J. DUPAW.

MACHiNE FOB MOISTENING, CLOSING, AND SEALING ENVELOPS.

(Application. filed Nov. 23, 1898.) V

(No Model.) 2 Sheets Sheet z,

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Nrrnn ISTATES I PATENT omee. Y

JOSIAH DUPA'W, OF IVASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

MACHINE FOR MOISTENING, CLOSING, AND SEALING ENVELOPS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 632,991, datedSeptember 12, 1899.

Application filed November 23, 1898. Serial No. 697,251. (No model.)

To to whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOSIAH DUPAw, a citizen of the United States,residing at Washing ton, in the District of Columbia, have inventedcertain new and useful Improvements in Machines for Moistening, Closing,and Sealing Envelops, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in machines for moistening,closing, and sealing envelops; and the main object of my invention isthe provision of a machine of this character in which any-sized envelopwhose flap may be upon either the side or end may be easily and quicklymoistened, closed, and sealed without in any way changing the relationof the parts of the machine.

Another object of my invention is the provision of a machine of thischaracter which may be operated by any power tomoisten, close, and sealany-sized envelops and deliver the same into a receiver at the rear ofthe machine.

Another object of my invention is the provision of a machine of thischaracter which is the embodiment of simplicity, durability, andinexpensiveness and which is very speedy in its operation, thusproducing a very eflicient and practical machine for this purpose.

To attain the desired objects, my invention consists of a machine formoistening, closing, and sealing envelops embodying novel features ofconstruction and combination of parts substantially as disclosed herein.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the entire machine. Fig. 2 is atransverse sectional view of the machine and the top of the tablesupporting the same. Fig. 3 is a detail end View of my machine, showingthe envelopmoistening device and its operating connections; and Fig. 4is a perspective view of the envelop receptacle or receiver.

In the drawings, the numeral 1 designates the table, which is anordinary sewing-machine table or stand with its treadle, wheel, and bandconnection to drive the envelop moistening, closing, and sealing machinelocated upon the top of this table or stand. Mounted upon this table isthe vertical in- Verted-U-shaped frame 2, which has journaled in itslower part the stationarily journaled roller 3, carrying at one end ofits axle 4 the pulley or power-receivin g wheel 5, which receives powerfrom theband of the operating mechanism, the band being adapted to passthrough an opening or slot 6 in the top of the table. Mounted in theupper vertical elongated slots or openings '7 in the upper part of thesides of the metal frame are the ends of the axle 8, carrying thegravity-roller 9, this roller and the lower roller constituting thesealing device of my machine. J on rnaled in the bearings 10, secured tothe top of this table, isthe axle or shaft 11, whichis arranged at rightangles to the end of the vertical metal frame, and upon this axle, nearone end, is the small friction-roller 12, which is adapted to contactthe outer end of the lower roller of the sealing device to be revolvedby said lower roller when the same is set in motion to revolve themoisteningroller 13, secured upon the axle 11 near its other end.Mounted upon the table-top and adapted to supply water to the roller 13is the tank or supplying-reservior let. Movably secured near the top ofthe frame to one of its sides, near the same side of which is locatedthe moistening device, is the arm 15, carrying at its other free end thecurved plate or shoe 16, which is adapted to hold the flap of an envelopupon the moistening-roller and adjust itself according to the thicknessof the paper.

Mounted upon the legs or standards 17 is the envelop -feeding table orplatform 18, which is provided with a cut-away portion 19 to allow themoisteningrollers upper surface to project above the surface of theplatform in order that the flap of the envelop may pass over the rollereasily, and to regulate the supply of water I employ the rubber strip18, secured on the platform and slightly contacting the roller. I alsoprovide this platform with the angular cut-away portion or throat 20 toallow the moistened flap of the envelop to fall downward and guide theenvelop to be closed by the guarding or closing strip 21, which issecured upon the top of the table in front of the sealing-rollers andwhich also prevents the flap from wrongly entering or passing betweenthe sealing-rollers to be sealed. The envelop after it has passedbetween the rollers is delivered upon the chute or slanting platform 22of the receiving box or receptacle 23, which is secured to the rear ofthe top of the table and which is provided with the slot 24 in its outerside and bottom, extending the full length of the side and partly intothe bottom of the receptacle, in order that the envelops may be easilyand readily taken from said receptacle.

From this description, taken in connection with the drawings, theoperation of my machine and its many advantages will be fullyappreciated; but its operation, brieflystated, is as follows: The flapof the envelop is extended, and the machine is set in motion. The flapis then placed upon the moisteningroller under the curved shoe, afterwhich it is moistened and passed along on the platform, the flapdropping downward in the throat of said platform and being helped alongby the hand of the operator until the flap contacts the guarding-strip,which causes the flap to move upward against the body of the envelop andallows the envelop to be passed between the rollers, which seal the flaptightly upon the body of the envelop and delivers it sealed into thereceptacle located at the rear of the machine. It will thus be seen thatany-sized envelop provided with a side or an end flap may be easily andquickly moistened, closed, and sealed in a perfect and thorough manner,as the machine needs no extra adj ustment to receive the various kindsof envelops, and thus makes my machine invaluable for sealing envelopsin a mixed or miscellaneous mail.

It is evident that I provide a simple, durable, and cheap machine ofthis character which is very efficient and practical for the intendedpurpose.

I claim- 1. A machine of the character described, consisting of thetable, mechanism journaled in said table for operating the machine, aframe mounted upon the table carrying a fixed roller and amovably-jourualed roller for sealing the envelop, a roller mounted atright angles to the frame and operated by the firstmentioned roller tomoisten the envelop, a platform provided with a throat to close the flapof the envelop secured upon said table in front of the sealing-rollers,and means to transmit the power to the first-mentioned roller to operatethe machine.

2. A machine of the character described, consisting of two rollersmounted in a frame, mechanism for operating said rollers, a moisteningdevice at right angles to the rollers operated by one of said rollers,and a feeding platform or table having a throat to allow the flap of theenvelop to fall downward therethrough and guide the envelop to therollers to be sealed.

3. A machine of the character described, consisting of a moisteningdevice, a closing device consisting of a platform provided with theangular cut-away portion or throat and the guarding-strips adjacent tosaid throat,

means for sealing the closed envelop, and mechanism for operating thesealing means.

4. A machine of the character described, consisting of a moisteningdevice, means for closing the flap of the envelop consisting of aplatform provided with an opening and a guarding-strip adjacent to saidopening, sealing means at right angles to the moistening means andadapted to operate said moistening means, and mechanism for operatingthe sealing means.

5. A machine of the character described, consisting of a moisteningdevice, a closing device consisting of a platform provided with anopening and the guarding-strip adjacent to said opening, means to sealthe envelop and operate the moistening device, mechanism for operatingthe sealing means, and an envelop-receptacle to receive the sealedenvelop.

6. A machine of the character described, consisting of a moisteningdevice, a closing device consisting of a platform provided withv anopening and a guard-strip adjacent to said opening, sealing meansdirectly opposite to said guarding-strip, and adapted to operate saidmoistening device, and mechanism for operating the sealing means.

7. A machine of the character described, consisting of a sealingmechanism, a moistening device operated by said sealing mechanism, aplatform provided with an opening to allow the flap of the envelop tofall, a guiding-strip located between the platform and thesealing-rollers to close the flap and guide the envelop to thesealing-rollers, and mechanism to operate the sealing-rollers andconsequently the moistening device.

8. A machine of the character described, consisting of a shaft carryingafriction-roller and a moistening-roller and means to supply themoistening-roller and to regulate the supply of liquid to the flap ofthe envelop, a closing device consisting of a platform provided with anopening and a guarding-strip adjacent to said opening, means for sealingthe envelop arranged at right angles to the mois tening-roller andfriction-roller and adapted to revolve the shaft, and mechanism to 0perate the sealing means.

9. In a machine for moistening, closing and sealing envelops, thecombination of a base or support, a moistening-roller mounted thereon, ashoe or flap holding device, a pair of sealing-rollers, a platformprovided with an opening and a guarding-strip located adjacent to saidopening between the sealing-rollers and the platform, said platform andstrip being adapted to close the envelop-flap, and mechanism foroperating the sealing-rollers and moistening-roller.

10. In a machine for moistening, closing and sealing envelops, thecombination of a support, a moistening-roller mounted thereon,sealing-rollers connected with the moistening-roller and operating thesame, an encent to said opening sealing-rollers arranged at an angle tothe moistening-roller and connected with said moistening-roller, andmechanism for operating the sealing and m0istening rollers.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

J OSIATI DUPAXV.

Vitnesses:

WM. N. MOORE, DAVID P MOORE.

